Lancaster crew chief status?

[pudge]

Highway Crew Chief Status, your thoughts?

On September 18, 2007, in the arbitration case between the Town of Lancaster and CSEA, Class Action, Job Posting Case No. 06-01, Arbitrator Michael Lewandowski ruled that the appointment to Working Crew Chief referred to in a grievance dated June 29, 2006 was nullified.

It meant that Dan Latello was appointed to a position, which rightfully should have gone to the more experienced and qualified John Smith. Mr. Smith was appointed and his time on the job became retroactive to June 29, 2006, when the grievance was filed.

The CSEA is now in the negotiating process to have Latello removed from the Working Crew Chief position because, as with the Smith grievance, there are individuals with more longevity and experience.

The CSEA does not recognize Latello’s time as acting Work Crew Chief over this period served as cause for his continuance in the position.

Your thoughts as to:

1. Do we really need four Working Crew Chiefs and the added expenses?

2. Should Latello be kept on the job because he has been working this position or should the process be followed that dictates that advancement take place according to seniority and qualifications?

3. Did Latello get the position because of rumored past Democratic Party favors and influence?

[TTDeathInLan]

How many chiefs does any town highway department need? The question should be, why do we need a highway supervisor and four more chiefs for a department consisting of, what, 17 full time positions.

Why does the highway department need a curb inspector? What are the official responsibilities of a curb inspector? What other highway departments in western New York have a curb inspector?

Did I fail to mention that most town roads don't even have curbs.

Back to the crew chief, he must still have the title as well as the town pickup truck he takes home. You can drive by his house at 3:30pm and see the truck sitting in his driveway.

Why does the town hire a labor lawyer for town contracts, when a highway laborer is earning 50,000 dollars a year plus an additional 60% in benefits= 80,000 dollars, before overtime. The lawyers have really provided a service to the taxpayers!

Remember, next Christmas, when you put your Christmas tree out at the curb, it will cost the taxpayers about 100.00 per tree for highway department labor.

[VegasDude]

How many chiefs does any town highway department need? The question should be, why do we need a highway supervisor and four more chiefs for a department consisting of, what, 17 full time positions.

Why does the highway department need a curb inspector? What are the official responsibilities of a curb inspector? What other highway departments in western New York have a curb inspector?

Did I fail to mention that most town roads don't even have curbs.

Back to the crew chief, he must still have the title as well as the town pickup truck he takes home. You can drive by his house at 3:30pm and see the truck sitting in his driveway.

Why does the town hire a labor lawyer for town contracts, when a highway laborer is earning 50,000 dollars a year plus an additional 60% in benefits= 80,000 dollars, before overtime. The lawyers have really provided a service to the taxpayers!

Remember, next Christmas, when you put your Christmas tree out at the curb, it will cost the taxpayers about 100.00 per tree for highway department labor.

I think their's atleast 4 getting get Crew Chief pay do to union
greivances

[4248]

I think their's at least 4 getting get Crew Chief pay do to union
grievances

This whole four crew Chief issue is not now or ever will be the result of Union Grievances . That was the single most inappropriate , misinformed statement one could make !

The whole issue is a Political Patronage fed Committee life style ! This Town is so wrapped around the "Tax Payer Funded ti-" .

Wake up ! New York State is out of control ! Anyone who cant see these money grabbing , self serving Bureaucrats for what they are - is blind !

We , as a Town hire out road work , our Highway and Parks Departments are a bottomless pits of soft bottom tax fed "Party Players." The Town Board has created a small army of "Money Blinded Party Clones."

No we don't need most of what our tax dollars are being used for - but the voters - the "Controlling Families" keep getting their way ! Why - why do we have a curb inspector - because your powerless to stop them !

Why do we have four crew Chief's - because you cant stop them !

Why do we have a Town Government that is littered with "friends , Family and in laws" because you cant stop them !

They now control every jobs , Office appointed or Elected , the Court system and most of the senior Officers in this Town - Why because Town hall Controls your tax dollars.!

We inhabit space in this Town , Their Town . Lancaster is still a "Farming Community" - they just put the "Milk Cows" ( us tax payers ) in nicer barns !

There are a handful of residents that speak out . The rest will continue to back "Their Boys."

[hawkeye]

This whole four crew Chief issue is not now or ever will be the result of Union Grievances . That was the single most inappropriate , misinformed statement one could make !

The whole issue is a Political Patronage fed Committee life style ! This Town is so wrapped around the "Tax Payer Funded ti-" .

Wake up ! New York State is out of control ! Anyone who cant see these money grabbing , self serving Bureaucrats for what they are - is blind !

We , as a Town hire out road work , our Highway and Parks Departments are a bottomless pits of soft bottom tax fed "Party Players." The Town Board has created a small army of "Money Blinded Party Clones."

No we don't need most of what our tax dollars are being used for - but the voters - the "Controlling Families" keep getting their way ! Why - why do we have a curb inspector - because your powerless to stop them !

Why do we have four crew Chief's - because you cant stop them !

Why do we have a Town Government that is littered with "friends , Family and in laws" because you cant stop them !

They now control every jobs , Office appointed or Elected , the Court system and most of the senior Officers in this Town - Why because Town hall Controls your tax dollars.!

We inhabit space in this Town , Their Town . Lancaster is still a "Farming Community" - they just put the "Milk Cows" ( us tax payers ) in nicer barns !

There are a handful of residents that speak out . The rest will continue to back "Their Boys."

The fact that only a few residence speak at the board meetings is the issue and will continue as long as the board is run buy Ms Retirement, Bobby boy, and yes man Ruffino and my daddy got me a job on the town board Abe. and last but not least Danny I am your friend Latello. Lewandowski the Arbitrator set a ruling and the Town Attorny and Giza will try to void the ruling and Latello is dropped and then the job come up with Latello getting the job because of past experience which is B.S. and the people will still not come to the meetings or speakout about their tax dollars being spent on a guy who for the last 10 years did nothing but screw the taxpapers with no work or out on disability and collecting his pay and running his own business and laughing at the system that he has screw for years. Latello should never have gotten the job in the first place and everyone know it but not willing to go to a board meeting and state it. MAYBE NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4248]

You can - as has been done many times in the past - "load Town Hall" to the rafters , fill the Opera House , over flow onto Central Ave - present signed petitions with thousands of signatures - what has that done ?

Was anything ever corrected - did the Town Board Controlling Members , ever stand up and say , "The residents have spoken - we as their Representatives vote NO!" - Tell me when that happened !

The only person who seemed to vote with the Residents was Mr.Don Kwak ! He seemed to understand who he worked for ! He moved to Hamburg and seemingly never looked back !

The only thing these self serving / developer fed / Party Players understand is "Votes" - as long as they control the "Town Jobs" as long as they deliver for the likes of Mr.Latelo - as long as they can just keep plugging in their friends and family - they will continue to ignore any opposing opinions or facts.

I saw a sign that read , " Its not denial , I'm just selective about the reality I accept!" That sign , should be emblazoned on the wall behind Mr.Giza at Town Board Meetings !

Last point : The Media is too easily led - they don't research both sides of Lancaster issues - as witnessed by the Bufnews article "Explaining" why what Mrs.Stempniak did was "Legal" - while never presenting the end results of this "Legal Maneuver" or how tax payers will carry her for life . They actually swallowed the BS that the move saved tax dollars -

Prove it benefited tax payers and not Mrs.Stempniak !

Lancaster,NY

[pudge]

Back to Latello

From what I understand, when the Crew Chief posting went up in June 2006, several individuals submitted a "letter of interest". However, except for Latello, the others were not interviewed.

John Smith, who was working in the Engineer's office as inspector, was interested in the position. After Latello was appointed, the White Collar Union filed a grievance and the matter went to arbitration.

The town lost in arbitration. The town created a fourth crew chief position so that Lotello, who lost his job to Smith, would also be kept on.

The crew chief positions were transferred from white collar to the blue collar for work related reasons and to place everyone under one umbrella - or so we are told. The Blue Collar Union is now challenging the Latello hiring claiming there were individuals who submitted letters of interest that had more time and experience than Latello and were not considered for the position.

The Blue Collar Union is also insisting that Latello's experience in the crew chief position should have no bearing in arguing that he is fit for the position.

It appears that Latello's appointment had political overtones. If the town loses again and Latello is ousted from the crew chief position, why should there not be only three crew chiefs - a general crew chief and two working crew chiefs- saving the town some money?

Why do we need four Crew Chiefs?

[4248]

Just because Lancaster has many people better qualified for the Position of Crew Chief - just because Mr.Latello bartered/contributed and was Politically appointed to a position created for him by the Local Democratic Town Employment Committee - why would anyone want to remove the tax payer funded patronage Position ?

How do you expect Mr.Giza and friends to keep all their loyal Party Fans in line ? How else can Chairman Terry keep them all happy ?

Just break it down , lets use "Giza-Logic" - we need these positions - its only one $68,000.00 tax payer funded - full life-time benefits - job ! How could that hurt - if you divide that by all the property tax paying residents , its less then the cost of a T.H.coffee & bagel !

Why hire some guy who is "qualified" - has a heavy equipment license - actually does physical labor - understands road maintenance , and who can actually "work?"

Whats your problem ? ! ? - This is Lancaster,NY

[pudge]

Just because Lancaster has many people better qualified for the Position of Crew Chief - just because Mr.Latello bartered/contributed and was Politically appointed to a position created for him by the Local Democratic Town Employment Committee - why would anyone want to remove the tax payer funded patronage Position ?

How do you expect Mr.Giza and friends to keep all their loyal Party Fans in line ? How else can Chairman Terry keep them all happy ?

Just break it down , lets use "Giza-Logic" - we need these positions - its only one $68,000.00 tax payer funded - full life-time benefits - job ! How could that hurt - if you divide that by all the property tax paying residents , its less then the cost of a T.H.coffee & bagel !

Why hire some guy who is "qualified" - has a heavy equipment license - actually does physical labor - understands road maintenance , and who can actually "work?"

Whats your problem ? ! ? - This is Lancaster,NY

For me, it doesn't matter what party is in office. Patronage is a game of spoils and influence.

What's wrong here is that the town is sure to lose it's arbitration case and Latello will be ousted from the crew chief position.

What is more wrong is that the town will try to negotiate a deal before the case goes to arbitration and will take the position that as Latello has been serving in this capacity, he now has the experience to be named as the fourth crew chief. WRONG!

What is more disturbing is that the town created a fourth crew chief position to accommodate Latello. The fourth crew chief position should be abolished.

Lancaster has four crew chiefs for a highway department of 28 workers. Some municipalities have twice the number of workers and less crew chief staffing.

Lancaster does not need a fourth crew chief!

[TTDeathInLan]

Forget about the union stuff. The simple fact of the matter is this, the town has the right to create positions and to eliminate positions. Either thru layoffs or the outright elimation of a job title.

This whole deal is politics at it's best. You won't see Lattello gone until he retires at a higher state pension, for the crew chief job.

[Foot Fungus]

It's been mentioned here before that the Town Attorney did not represent the Town in this case, but was handled by outside counsel. Who is the attorney handling this now and does anyone have any ideas of the costs to date?

___________________________________

"It's a perfect example of you need to get out and vote because all your votes count".
Mark Montour- Democratic, Republican, Independence, Conservative and Working Families parties candidate for Lancaster Town Justice

"I don't think it was luck" -Donna Stempniak, unopposed candidate for Lancaster Town Council on winning re-election.

[Foot Fungus]

From the SUWNY front page:

http://www.speakupwny.com/article_3629.shtml

Thanks Lee C.

Even at the low end, that's gotta be a pretty good dollar amount for the crew chief flap alone.

___________________________________

"It's a perfect example of you need to get out and vote because all your votes count".
Mark Montour- Democratic, Republican, Independence, Conservative and Working Families parties candidate for Lancaster Town Justice

"I don't think it was luck" -Donna Stempniak, unopposed candidate for Lancaster Town Council on winning re-election.

[pudge]

Forget about the union stuff. The simple fact of the matter is this, the town has the right to create positions and to eliminate positions. Either thru layoffs or the outright elimation of a job title.

This whole deal is politics at it's best. You won't see Lattello gone until he retires at a higher state pension, for the crew chief job.

So, you're saying that the blue collar crew chief job can be created by the whim of the town and through appointment (politics) without concern for meeting civil service requirements regarding time in job (experience) and qualifications?

Is that what you are saying? I'm hearing Latello is dead meat as far as the crew chief position goes!

[4248]

[quote=pudge]So, you're saying that the blue collar crew chief job can be created by the whim of the town and through appointment (politics) without concern for meeting civil service requirements regarding time in job (experience) and qualifications?

Is that what you are saying? I'm hearing Latello is dead meat as far as the crew chief position goes![/quote

Basically - yes they can and have usurped Civil Service rules/requirements many times !

Theres a few loop-wholes like:

They can hire him "Provisionally" - and this gives him time to gain "experience" to justify his hiring.

They can hire him and require he take a test within a set amount of time.

They can substitute time in grade or prior work "experience" to meet job requirements.

There are more ways - but who do you think writes the actual requirements for the jobs - civil service follows the Towns lead - the Union tries to keep it fair !


Spin the tax dollar funded patronage wheel - where will Latello pop up next ?

Just like with our Newly appointed tax assessor Mr.Marrano(x-planning Board member) , they get one of their own (Dem Committeeman) to say , "Oh , he has been watching me work - so he's qualified."

-

[pudge]

[QUOTE=4248]

So, you're saying that the blue collar crew chief job can be created by the whim of the town and through appointment (politics) without concern for meeting civil service requirements regarding time in job (experience) and qualifications?

Is that what you are saying? I'm hearing Latello is dead meat as far as the crew chief position goes![/quote

Basically - yes they can and have usurped Civil Service rules/requirements many times !

Theres a few loop-wholes like:

They can hire him "Provisionally" - and this gives him time to gain "experience" to justify his hiring.

They can hire him and require he take a test within a set amount of time.

They can substitute time in grade or prior work "experience" to meet job requirements.

There are more ways - but who do you think writes the actual requirements for the jobs - civil service follows the Towns lead - the Union tries to keep it fair !


Spin the tax dollar funded patronage wheel - where will Latello pop up next ?

Just like with our Newly appointed tax assessor Mr.Marrano(x-planning Board member) , they get one of their own (Dem Committeeman) to say , "Oh , he has been watching me work - so he's qualified."

-

If such is the case, then it is understandable why the white-collar union fought the Latello appointment and why the blue-collar union is following up with the same type of suit to keep Latello from getting the appointment and while arguing that his current experience in the position has no bearing in his retaining the position.

But then again, this board can do as it chooses because there is no viable major party opposition or challenge. Do you hear boo from the Republican Party?

Could it be that they are in bed with the Dems? Why else is one to think after this past years election farce!

At least the union took a position against a hiring travesty.